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Re: ring up

My immediate thought is, these are the opening lines of the play (or of Act Two or Three). 'ring up' is a stage direction to 'ring up the curtain', raise the curtain. The first two lines are spoken, then the curtain goes up, and the conversation continues. The playwright is giving the effect that we have walked in on, and are now witnessing, some ongoing drama. (Saves all the tedious dialogue of someone entering a room, the introductions beings done, stating why he is there - it means they can get straight into the drama.)